Simulated tree

ABSTRACT

A simulated tree is provided with a vertically elongated shaft having a circular cross section. A hollow sleeve is disposed concentrically about the lower end of the shaft and extends upwards therealong for a predetermined distance. A ring encircles the top end of the shaft. A plurality of equidistantly spaced elongated members are secured at their upper ends to the ring and extend downward and outward. The lower ends of the members extend below the top end of the sleeve and define equidistantly spaced points on a horizontal circle which has a diameter substantially larger than that of either ring or sleeve. Means secured to the top end of the sleeve and the adjacent part of the shaft extend outward and are secured to the lower ends of the members.

United States Patent [191 Anderson Nov. 26, 1974 SIMULATED TREE [76] Inventor: Elizabeth L. Anderson, 3713 Fairfax Way, South San Francisco, Calif. 94080 [22] Filed: Sept. 28, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 401,826

Primary Examiner-William E. Schulz [5 7] ABSTRACT A simulated tree is provided with a vertically elongated shaft having a circular cross section. A hollow sleeve is disposed concentrically about the lower end of the shaft and extends upwards therealong for a predetermined distance. A ring encircles the top end of the shaft. A plurality of equidistantly spaced elongated members are secured at their upper ends to the ring and extend downward and outward. The lower ends of the members extend below the top end of the sleeve and define equidistantly spaced points on a horizontal circle which has a diameter substantially larger than that of either ring or sleeve. Means secured to the top end of the sleeve and the adjacent part of the shaft extend outward and are secured to the lower ends of the members.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SIMULATED TREE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention is directed toward a simulated tree which can be made of metal, painted in one or more colors and either disposed along or in a suitable support or stand as a highly decorative and attractive ornament. It can be decorated with synthetic or fresh flowers and the like.

My tree comprises a vertically elongated shaft having a hollow sleeve disposed concentrically about the lower end of the shaft and extending upwardly therealong for a perdetermined distance. A ring encircles the top end of the shaft. A plurality of equidistantly spaced elongated members are secured at their upper ends to the ring and extend downward and outward. The lower ends of the members extend below the top end of the sleeve and define points equidistantly spaced along a horizontal circle having a diameter substantially larger than that of either ring or sleeve. Means secured to the top end of the sleeve and the adjacent part of the shaft extends outward and is secured to the lower ends of the members.

The tree is then supported by a stand engaging the sleeve or otherwise is disposed in a vertical position for use as indicated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. I is an exploded view of my invention; FIG. 2 is a top view thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 33 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, an elongated vertical metal shaft ofcircular cross section is provided with a horizontal metal ring 12 disposed concentrically about the top end and a vertical hollow metal sleeve 14 secured to the lower end ofthe shaft and extending upward for a predetermined distance.

Seven elongated metal members 16 have upper ends formed into upwardly and outwardly extending loops l8 welded or otherwise secured to the outside of ring 12 and extend outward and downward to bottom ends formed into downwardly and inwardly disposed loops 20 located below the top end of the sleeve.

Seven elongated concavely downwardly shaped metal elements 22 are secured at inner ends to the shaft and upper end of the sleeve and extend radially outward to be secured to the lower ends of corresponding members. Each element 22 and its corresponding member 16 define a common vertical plane. The members 16 are equidistantly spaced with respect to each other whereby the bottom ends are located at equidistantly spaced points on a horizontal circle having a substantially larger diameter than either ring or sleeve.

Sleeve 14 can be held in flower pot-24 or other support or stand.

The simulated tree can then be painted, decorated and used as previously described.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to the drawings, such is not to be considered as limiting its actual scope.

Having thus described this invention, what is asserted as new is:

l. A simulated tree comprising:

a vertical shaft having a circular cross section;

a hollow sleeve disposed concentrically about the lower end of the shaft and extending upward therealong for a predetermined distance;

a ring encircling the top end of the shaft;

a plurality of equidistantly spaced elongated members secured at their upper ends to the ring and extending downward and outward, the lower ends of these members extending below the top end of the sleeve and defining points on a horizontal circle having a diameter substantially larger than that of either ring or sleeve, said points being equidistantly spaced; and

means secured to the top end of the sleeve and the adjacent part of the shaft, said means extending outward and secured to the lower ends of said members.

2. The tree of claim 1 wherein said means includes a like plurality of radially extending elements, each ele- 

1. A simulated tree comprising: a vertical shaft having a circular cross section; a hollow sleeve disposed concentrically about the lower end of the shaft and extending upward therealong for a predetermined distance; a ring encircling the top end of the shaft; a plurality of equidistantly spaced elongated members secured at their upper ends to the ring and extending downward and outward, the lower ends of these members extending below the top end of the sleeve and defining points on a horizontal circle having a diameter substantially larger than that of either ring or sleeve, said points being equidistantly spaced; and means secured to the top end of the sleeve and the adjacent part of the shaft, said means extending outward and secured to the lower ends of said members.
 2. The tree of claim 1 wherein said means includes a like plurality of radially extending elements, each element lying in a common vertical plane with its corresponding inclined member.
 3. The tree of claim 2 wherein each lower end of each member forms a downwardly and inwardly disposed loop.
 4. The tree of claim 3 wherein each upper end of each member forms an upwardly and outwardly disposed loop. 